The initial blow from Kagenthur's hammer abruptly ends the fray. The guard falls headlong into the floor with a loud crash. You hope the music from the main room drowns out the sound of battle, even though it was rather brief.

The next sound that reaches your ears is that of soft, rhythmic clapping. The female fiend--the one so similar in appearance to Rahmzur du Mar--drops her invisibility spell while she applauds the outcome of the battle. "Very nicely done. I don't think you needed my help at all."

She then strides toward the four of you and offers an introduction. "I am Renelia du Mar, sister to the one who brought you here to the Tower of Song. Allow me to help you to escape, will you? I think you'd very much like to keep your souls in tact, yes?"

She smiles broadly, and warmly, if fiends can do such a thing.

"We would. But we would rather not deal with those of a more...fiendish quality." Zolya says, not trying to hide his distain for Renelia. There is no love lost between him and fiends. He puts away his Lyre. Why did it have to be fiends? Why couldn't it have been the fey?! Fey are much better than dealing with these wretched things!

"I would like to keep my honor and soul in tact as it may be. We apparently made a deal with zis bother of yours, and ze means to which we were brought here suggests we could could be brought back here again. So tell us of zis soul ruining danger and why we should not just hold up our side of the bargain? And why would you help us, what do you stand to gain from our... departure from here?" Boisseau is more then suspicious that this fiend intends to dig them a deeper hole then already are in.

"Distrust a fiend? How droll!" quips Renelia in feigned surprise at Zolya's remark.

Then, turning to Boisseau, she says, "Yes. You made a deal with my brother...the oh so shrewd Rahmzur du Mar. Like so many others of your kind, your desire to make a name for yourselves played into his hands. Play seven shows for seven days as promised, and the deal is fulfilled and you will most certainly be granted your leave of this place. What's the catch, you ask?"

Renelia picks up the remaining flagon of wine, pours herself a glass, and answers her own question. "The catch is this. You will be permitted to leave. Your talent...your ability...your craft...will not be permitted to leave. You will return to the Material Plane quite plain, if you'll pardon the pun. It's a nasty trick really."

She sips the wine and explains further. "Why would I help you? Let us say my brother and I do not share the same loyalty. This fourth plane of Hell--Phelgethos it is called--is ruled by two arch fiends. Rahmzur serves one, and I the other. His failure is my success."

Zolya tries to remember anything he can about Phelgethos and its rulers. Knowledge is power

Religion check: 23

"Which of the fiendish tyrants do you serve?"

"Possibly you have heard of Fierna, Lady of the Fourth," replies Renelia with a tiny sneer. "My brother nearly fawns over her. I, however, have the wits to spend my time and effort on behalf of Belial, the Archduke."

NOTE: The names Fierna and Belial harmonize with what Zolya has heard about the Nine Hells.

"Why should we ally ourselves with you and Belial? What can you offer us that would make it worth it to make a deal with the likes of you?" Zolya asks expectantly, making movements to turn away. He knows how these fiends work, and he's trying to make Renelia desperate and hasty with whatever deal she has come here to make the group. If she can play games, he can play them too.

Deception check: 19

Kagenthur drops the last fiend, and in his fury turns to Renelia ready for more. He raises his hammers and then looks around at everyone having a discussion so back down they go with a slight tinge of disappointment. 

"I suppose that's it then?" 

Finally having joined the conversation, he catches the end of Zolya sounding like he was trying to make a second deal and listens intently to Renelia's response. 

"You won't be making any deal with me," explains Renelia. "You may take the information I give you and do with it what you please. If my information allows you to evade Rahmzur's plans for you and your talents, then I have the delight of sabotaging the goings-on here in the Tower of Song, which would please the Archduke and strike a blow to the efforts of Fierna."

Renelia sips from her glass again, before repeating, "No deal with me. No contract. No signatures. Allow me to elaborate."

Renelia du Mar then takes the next few minutes to explain the following:

• If you break your contract with Rahmzur by refusing or failing to play the shows your souls will immediately be claimed by Asmodeus.
• The only practical way to wriggle out of your deal is to destroy Rahmzur’s copy of the contract. As long as the document exists, the contract is in effect. 
• Rahmzur keeps his important documents in his study, which is in the east wing of the floor. You will need to cross the ballroom and head for the door in the middle of the far wall.

"Weapons have their uses, but you might want to consider a more subtle approach in the hours ahead,. Although, if I know anything of my brother, he'll be doing all he can to charm the attendees," she concludes with a tilt of her head and a fiendish smile. 

After another sip of wine, she again turns invisible as you hear her remark, "Rahmzur would be most displeased to find me here. I'll be going now."

Zolya does not trust her one bit, but if he is to escape, and he must escape, he shall not refuse to go to the study. Once Renallia is gone, he would look at the rest of the party "I don't like it, but this study, if it exists, is our best bet. We should make our way there. And preferably without violence"

Before she leaves Geoffrey wonders if she is trying to mislead us. 

Insight 3

Geoffrey gauges the words and actions of Renelia carefully as she offers her advice to the party. He doesn't detect any sort of deception or dishonesty. 

Kagenthur slips his hammers into their holsters and shrugs when Renelia disappears. 

He nods at Zolya's plan and says, 

"Aye guess that's all their is to it then. 

"OK. It's been a while, so... How Stealthy are you?" Geoffrey asks.

NOTE: Although invisible, Renelia does not hide her manner of departure from the lounge. She exits via the lone door in the northwest corner, allowing you a glance down a white-walled hallway approximately 40' in length where it then turns right. 

Boisseau will try and watch where Renelia goes (still has See Invisiblity) without being bluntly obvious about it. He debated casting Faerie Fire on her but decided whatever disturbance her presence woukd bring, it might might draw attention to where they intended to go as well. So he resisted. "Well I can turn two of us invisible to move about, seems to work well for our new fiend aquatance."

Boisseau is able to track Renelia's path; she travels the length of the hall and turns to the right before going out of view altogether. 

Kagenthur looks at his clothes all covered in bits and blood from the hammer blows, "I wouldn't trust my talent at tip toe to save us, that's for certain." 

"I can be sufficiently silent if is required."

Moving the story along just a bit, assuming the party stealthily investigated the hallway.

As you move northward in the hallway, the sound of music grows louder in your ears. When you reach the right turn you are faced with multiple options: (a) another hallway that continues north, and three doors (b, c, and d). You have little doubt that the source of the music lies somewhere beyond the eastern door (c).